Preventing ticks and fleas from invading your home and taking residence on our pets is a never ending story. In this article experts answer frequently asked questions about these critters.
Q: What do ticks and fleas feed on?
A: Both ticks and fleas need blood to survive, and both will feed on animals and humans. A tick will attach itself to his new host by ‘burying’ its head in the host’s skin. The tick will stay there for an average of seven to 10 days, depending on its life stage. While the tick is there, it will keep on feeding, until it is full.
Adult fleas also suck the blood of their hosts, but they prefer to stay on animals with fur coats – the longer the coat, the more comfortable the stay is. A female flea will start laying eggs two days after its first blood meal, and it takes two to three weeks for a flea to reach adulthood.
Q: Where do ticks and fleas normally hide?
A: Wherever there is tall grass and wooded areas, there is a chance of encountering at least one tick. It will wait for a host to pass by and then attach itself somewhere out of sight where it is warm. Fleas can be found almost anywhere. They populate and then hide in tall grass and bushy areas in gardens. Inside the house, you might find fleas in common places, like your pet’s bedding, your couches, carpets and even in cracks and crevices in the walls.
Ticks and fleas don’t smell blood; they react to the smell of carbon dioxide, which tells them that there is a host in the vicinity.
Q: Why should I deworm my dog regularly to get rid of fleas?
A: Worms and fleas have a good relationship, where infected fleas will transfer worm eggs to your pet. In most cases, where there are fleas present, there is a good possibility that your pet has worms as well. Therefore, it is important to deworm your pet every three months. But don’t stop there – also deworm the rest of the family every six months.
Q: What were some of the first products developed against ticks and fleas?
A: In 1893, arsenic was first used for tick control in South Africa. Then, later, a range of organic acaricides, which included compounds like organochlorines, organophosphates and carbamates, were used separately. Acaricides are substances that are poisonous to arachnids in the subclass that includes mites and ticks. All these compounds are or were used in dips. Tick grease is an old method, but is still used on livestock.
Most of these compounds were very toxic to the animals and/or the environment. Over a period of time, the development of environmentally safer acaricides, such as formamidines and synthetic pyrethroids, reached the market, due to market pressure because of the harmful effects caused by a build-up of residues.
Parasites may also develop a resistance to acaricides, and this necessitates the continual search for new and safer active ingredients, and these have enabled easier forms of application to be introduced, for example, pour-ons, products that are administered orally to pets and the patented Afrivet Acaricidal Balls (like paintballs) for heavy infestation on animals (game) who cannot easily be treated with other products.
Q: Do rats also get ticks and fleas? Should I treat my rat against these parasites?
A: Pet rats can become infested with external parasites, but ticks and fleas are seen very rarely. The only time a pet rat would get them is if there was another pet in the household, such as a dog or cat, who had these parasites. There are, however, other more common rat parasites. Mange mites cause itching and can cause scabby, cauliflower-like growths on the ears, nose and tail. Fur lice can be seen crawling about in the fur and tropical rat mites appear as tiny black or dark red spots that move over the rat. These mites live in the environment and only climb onto the host to feed. They will also bite people if given the chance.
It is a good idea to get any recently acquired pet rat checked out by an exotic animal veterinarian. They can then be treated for all the common parasites to prevent them from bringing pests into your home. Healthy pet rats should not need regular parasite treatments, as long as they are not exposed to sources of infestation.
Tip: If you don’t have time to vacuum your house every day, consider a robotic vacuum cleaner.
Q: Is there something I can do in my home to keep it flea-free?
A: Despite all the products we might use, these little parasites may still find their way into our homes. If this happens, it’s easy to panic, but here are a few tips to get rid of them quickly.
- Vacuum all carpets and furniture regularly to remove flea eggs and larvae. And remember to clean out the vacuum cleaner as well.
- Wash all bedding, towels and pet bedding in hot water to kill fleas and their eggs.
- Use flea sprays or pet-friendly foggers in your home to kill adult fleas and prevent re-infestation.
- Treat your pets with flea prevention products regularly.
- Try to keep your yard as clean and tidy as possible. For instance, long grass can attract these parasites, as they can easily hide in it.
- If you still have a flea problem despite your efforts, consider calling a professional pest control service to help you get rid of the fleas.
Q: Can I stop my dog’s tick and flea preventative programme in the colder months?
A: As most parts of South Africa’s winters are comparatively warm, it is strongly recommended that we continue with the preventative programmes during winter, even if it feels cold.
Q: Why do I have to check my dog’s fur for parasites when we get back home?
A: After a walk in the park or an area with long grass, you will have to check your dog for ticks and fleas. Be thorough and check absolutely everywhere, especially in and behind his ears, between his toes and in his armpits. You don’t want ticks or fleas to enter your home, as this could result in an infestation, not to mention the risk of tick-bite fever or biliary, which affects both pets and people.
Q: What is the best way to remove a tick from my dog?
A: Ideally, wear surgical gloves and then flatten your dog’s hair around the tick with a bit of water or rubbing alcohol. You can remove the tick with a sterilised pair of tweezers or a tick removal tool by grabbing it as close to the skin as possible. Steadily pull the tick slowly away from your pet’s skin. Be careful not to pinch his skin and make sure you remove the entire tick, including its head, since any residue could cause an infection. During this process, you should try to keep your dog calm – give him treats if necessary.
Clean the area with a medical disinfectant or alcohol once you’ve removed the tick. The best way to dispose of these nasty little critters is to drop them in a jar containing isopropyl alcohol to kill them.
If you struggle to remove the tick or if the tick is difficult to reach, consult your vet.
Q: What should I do if a tick has bitten my cat?
A: Once you or your vet have removed the tick, you will have to treat the wound area to prevent an infection. As ticks can transmit diseases like Lyme disease, babesiosis and ehrlichiosis (tick-bite fever), it is important to ensure that all parts of the ticks have been removed.
Clean the area where the tick has bitten your cat with feline-friendly antiseptic and, if you can, take your pet to the vet as soon as possible. If your cat shows any symptoms of tick-bite fever, see the vet immediately. Symptoms for cats and dogs may include:
- Fever
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Lethargy
- Joint pain and swelling; lameness
- Trouble walking
- Anaemia
- Pale gums
- Bloody stools
- Jaundice
- Irritation, redness and itching around the bite area
